I John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Verses eight, nine and ten comprise something of a spiritual sandwich. On either side of verse nine we have this comparison: We deceive ourselves? Yes, for the scriptures declare that “there is none righteous, no not one:” Rom. 3:10. We make Him a liar? Yes, for God has said that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;” Rom.3:23. Look at the other side of the coin. “if we confess our sins” But if we do not confess our sins. . .a deafening silence. . . the message we are sending to our Heavenly Father: “I have no sin. . .I have not sinned.” “Well, God is omniscient: He already knows all about my life; He is aware of my sins!” True. But by the same token, shall we presume every sinner to be
saved, apart from repentance and faith, because God is aware of his sin? Certainly the Lord is aware of our sins. But the great need is that of our own awareness of our transgressions; the results of such, being the confessing of the same. Before I believe that God will forgive and cleanse, I must first believe that sin is present - and act upon that knowledge by confession! While He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, it remains imperative that we confess, that we acknowledge the very existence of those sins. Confession is more than awareness, it is a matter of the will. We must be willing to yield ourselves in obedience and submission. If we are unwilling to become honest before God, then do we harbor a spirit of resistance. Though He be willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, He cannot. He can not cleanse that which will not be made clean. We must meet with God - under His terms and not our own. We must align ourselves with Him - against our sins. We must acknowledge the spirit of unrighteousness within us; to further understand that it is He alone who is able cleanse us from that unrighteousness. All attempts toward self cleansing are futile; moreover, in so doing we are resisting, and not allowing God to do that which He has promised.
Comparison
“If we say that we have no sin,”
“If we say that we have not sinned,”
“we deceive ourselves,”
“we make Him a liar,”
“and the Truth is not in us.”
“and His Word is not in us”
“But what can I do in order to accomplish such a task?” Actually, our text well illustrates that which we seek: “confess our sins,” admit first to ourselves; believe that we have sinned; then acknowledge them before the Lord. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I ask you, what better way is there to mortify the flesh than to confess its existence; to throw open our heart’s door; to expose the sin that is nesting there. Is not the same Spirit who quickens and makes alive, equally equipped to mortify the old man of the flesh?
The lack of confessing sin: a hindrance to prayer.If my brother is distressed or troubled; if he is faltering along the Christian journey: How may I expect to pray for him, for God to intervene in his life, if I am not allowing Him to do so in my own?
David knew full well of those things whereof we speak. Though John would not pen I John 1:9 for many years, yet it is clearly illustrated in the prayer of repentance found in Psalm 51. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” David’s sins are before him; he acknowledges them, first to himself, then to God. In verse one he praises the Lord for His tender mercies, that He is well able to blot out his transgressions. Both Psalms 51:2 and I John 1:9 are in agreement: “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
“He is just. . .to forgive. . .to cleanse.” David further declares: “Against Thee. . .have I sinned. . .that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.” Our text declares, “If we confess. . .He is. . .just to forgive, cleanse.” God is absolutely just. The blood of His Son paid in full the Everlasting Covenant. It is signed, sealed and delivered. By it, our sin has been lawfully and judicially put away; by it, the door of Reconciliation has been opened and we are bidden to freely enter!
One other thought: The writer who penned our text was the disciple/apostle John. He is considered by all to have been the closest to our Lord; in the innermost circle of fellowship. He is that disciple “whom Jesus loved.” To him was entrusted the responsibility of penning the book of the Revelation. Yet this man writes, not if you, but “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
